Closure ring for bearings



Oct. 25, 1932. c HOUSTON Y 1,883,916

CLOSURE RING FOR BEARINGS Filed May 17, 1928 IN VEN TOR. L.C.Hou 570/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE LEVI Curran nousmon,F nEw imrram, OONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 mm; FAFNIR BEARING COMPANY, OFNEW BRITAIN N ECTICU T CLOSURE RING Application filed Kay 17,

This invention relates to a bearing and in particular to a closuremember for retaining lubricant and excluding dust therefrom.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved formof closure means for a bearing. J

\Vith this and other objects in View, my invention consists in thefeatures of construction and operation set forth in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanyz'ng drawing.

in the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of thisspecifica tion I have shown my invention embodied in a closure memberfor an antifriction bearing adapted particularly for shackles, but itwill be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and thatthe drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope ofthe invention, the claims appended to this specification being reliedupon for that purpose.

In the drawing, the figure shows a cross sectional View of anantifriction bearing having the present invention applied thereto.

In the above mentioned drawing I have shown but one embodiment of theinvention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understoodthat changes and modifications may be made within the scope of theappended claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its preferred form, the invention includes a cylindricalmember having an end formed of a flange bent back upon itself to form aninwardly and outwardly ex tending flange, a lubricant retaining memberpreferably in the form of a felt washer within the closure memberadjacent the inwardly ex-' tending flange, and a flanged ring retainingthe lubricant retaining member within the closure member and against theinwardly extending flange. r

In the drawing which illustrates a part of a spring shackle, a shacklepin secured in a member 11 such as an automobile side frame is providedat its outer end with a bearing race surface 12 for antifriction memberssuch as balls 13. Within the shackle link 14. which is to be flexiblyconnected tothe shackle pin CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ronBEARINGS 1928. Serial No. 278,484.

10 and frame member 11 is a suitable recess within which is closelyfitted a cup shaped member 15 forming a race surface complementary tothat on the pin 10..

In order to retain lubricant within the spaces surrounding theantifriction members 13 and within the cup shaped member 15, a closuremember in the form of a cylinder or ring 16 is provided within which isretained a felt or other compressible washer 17 closely engaging thecylindrical portion of the shackle pin 10 forming the journal portion ofthe bearing. This closure member 16 in the preferred form of the presentinvention is made of ring form, a cylindrical portion thereof beingpressed or forced into the open end of the cup shaped member 15 toengage the internal cylindrical surface of the cup shaped member. Anoutwardly extending flange 18 integrally formed on this closure ring 16engages a ai nst the open end surface of the cup shaped 18 is doubled'or bent upon itself to form an inwardl extending flange 19 extendinginwardly yond the bore through the ring 16 and loosely surrounding theshackle pin or journal 10. Both flanges 18 and 19 are closely adjacentto each other and are disposed at substantially right angles to thecylindrical portion 16. The lubricant retaining washer 17, preferably offelt, has oneend surface adjacent this inwardly extending flange 19 andmember 15. This flange its internal surface contacts closely with thethe felt or other washer 17 in operative posi-' tion in the 16.

It will be understood from the above description that lubricant such asgrease may be retained within the cup shaped member 15 between theantifriction members 13, and this lubricant will be prevented fromescaping by the Washer 17 closely engaging the shackle pin 10 and housedwithin the closure member 16 between the inwardly extending flanges 19and 21. Also, by reason of'this felt or other washer 17, dust will beprevented from entering the bearing.

It will be seen that the closure ring is of very ri id construction forthe reason that the dou le flan e is integral with the cylindri 5 calportion of t e cup 16. Due to the integral construction, there is nopossibility of the end flanges 18-19 becoming disengaged from the mainbody of the ring 16. Due to the ri d construction of the closure, thereis little li elihood that the partswill ever become separated orinoperative in use. The parts of the closure may all be economicallymanufactured of sheet metal by ordinary pressing operations. I

I claim: v 1. In a bearin closure, a tubular sheet metal sleeve mem rhaving a substantially radially extending flange thereon comprising areturn bent flange portion extending radially of saidsleeve in onedirection and a continuation of a art of said return bent flange portionexten ing radially of said sleeve in the o posite direction, partsvofsaid return 25 bent ange portion being substantially parallel to and inpromixity to each other, a seal member within said sleeve member, andmeans for holding said seal member in place.

2. In a bearing closure, a sheet metal sleeve 4 member to be passedlongitudinally into an opening in a support, said sleeve member havingat the outer end an integral substani tially radially extendin flangeortion extending radia 1y outwar 1y beyon said sleeve I portion tocontact with the edge of the openmg in the support to position saidsleeve mem- I her in the opening, said flange portion further comprisingan inte ral flange part extendin radially inwardly yond the inner edge 07 said sleeve, one of said flange ortions bein formed of 'a doublethickness 0 metal forme by doublin one of said flange parts upon itself,a sea member adjacent said inwardly extending flange and said sleeve,and holding means for maintaining said seal member in place. LEVI CARTERHOUSTON.

